Seahorse in reef

[puffer21]

Ok so I am resetting up my saltwater tank. I have kept saltwater for seven years. And I work at a LFS that only sells saltwater animals (not petco). I always tell customers that seahorses should be kept in a species only tank, and that fish can go with seahorses if they are tiny like barnacle blennies or yasha hasa goby. Anyways I have a 58 gallon tank. I will be putting 2 Percula clowns a helfrich firefish and many small gobys like barnacle blenny, clown gobies, yasha hasa goby. I will have corals in the tank leathers, acans, chalices, mushrooms, ricordia, and yumas. I am wondering what people think of me putting in seahorses. I know that one of the problems with seahorses in a reef is because there is a competition for food. So I will be targeting feeding the seahorses. So what do people think of this.

 

[Sk8r]

The biggest drawback will be bullying by some of the gobies and flow level: if you are experienced with seahorses, you'll know, I hope, if they are not holding their own and have an alternate plan in mind. I AGREE WITH THE POSTER BELow---not a good idea: keep reading.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

You really shouldn't keep the seahorses with clowns or chalices and acans. Those corals could sting/eat the seahorse and the clowns are just too active for them. Plus the tank will have lots of flow for the reef part and the seahorses really need a low flow environment.

If you want something interesting to keep like seahorses and are willing to give the extra care needed for them, I would suggest looking into pipefish. There are a few species that can successfully and safely be kept in a high flow reef environment.

 

[zoeyo5]

what kind of pipefish can be kept in a reef with high flow?

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

The best is probably Banded Pipefish or Blue Stripe Pipefish or Multibanded Yellow Pipefish but I'm pretty sure Alligator Pipefish and Jann's Pipefish can be kept in high flow too.

Courtesy of LiveAquaria:

"The Banded Pipefish is a type of reef pipefish or flagtail pipefish. This fish is a stronger swimmer than its seahorse cousins and rarely comes into direct contact with the substrate. In the wild, the Banded Pipefish can be found swimming under rocky overhangs, corals, or close to the floor of its reef habitat."

"The Bluestripe Pipefish is the smallest of the reef pipefishes available in the aquarium hobby. It has a long, slender body with a tiny, tubular mouth and a round, flag-like tail. The body is orange with a blue stripe on either side running from snout to tail. The tail is maroon to red with highly variable yellow, orange, and white markings.
Bluestripe pipefish are among the hardiest pipefish, but are difficult to keep due to their small size and unusual requirements. "

"The Yellow Multibanded Pipefish is a type of reef pipefish or flagtail pipefish. This fish is a stronger swimmer than its seahorse cousins and rarely comes into direct contact with the substrate. In the wild, the Yellow Multibanded Pipefish can be found swimming under rocky overhangs, corals, or close to the floor of its reef habitat.

"The Janss' Pipefish is a type of reef pipefish or flagtail pipefish. This fish is a stronger swimmer than its seahorse cousins and rarely comes into direct contact with the substrate. In the wild, the Janss' Pipefish can be found swimming under rocky overhangs, corals, or close to the floor of its reef habitat where it performs the role of cleaner fish and often feed on parasites and dead tissue from damsels and cardinalfish. The Janss' Pipefish may also clean other types of fish in the aquarium."

"The Dragonface Pipefish is also called the Reeftop Pipefish. The Dragonface Pipefish is a poor swimmer and prefers to travel by sliding its body over substrate and live rock similar to the way a snake moves. The Dragonface Pipefish can also use its tail to loosely anchor itself to corals or rocks.


Thank you LA.

 

[Sk8r]

That's a point about the corals; I was thinking about light and flow, but of course---stinging by corals, some of which put out 6" sweepers at night, is not good: seahorses will grab anything, and even grabbing an ordinarily innocuous candycane would get them stung. I agree with you: best go with pipefish, who do seem to handle a reef quite well if you can keep them out of the overflow.

 

[puffer21]

I know that torch corals send sweepers. But i wasnt sure about chalices, acans and leathers

 

[worldnewsmap]

i would not put clowns in with seahorses can do all kinds of zoas ,gsp, candycanes, xenia, clove, mushrooms, rics etc... the clowns will usually beat up on the horses and if nothign else they are to aggressize of eaters

 

[BeanMachine]

I have a Australian banded pipefish in my reef tank. Does great, mostly active at night tho. Make sure to find one eating prepared foods. Mine eats mysis and cyclops.

 

[reefgeezer]

Sea Horses, Pipe Fish, and Dragonettes do well in mature sea grass habitat with maybe some gorgonias or sponges. You'll also have to guard against temperatures above 78 F.

 

[Rebel]

Rather than trying to consider what sort of seahorse you could put into a reef, why don't you consider what sort of reef creatures you could put in a seahorse tank. You sound knowledgable enough to set up a decent habitat tank for the seahorse. Then see what sort of corals may work in there--some that won't sting/sweep and don't require high flow.

 

[puffer21]

One of the things is I really like pacasso clowns and helfrich firefish. One of the tanks at my store had seahorses, small fish (yellow clown goby, yasha hasa goby, red head goby...) and 2 pacasso clowns and they all got along. I watched them constantaly and I never saw any harassment. The seahorses did very well. I already know that I want my pacasso, helfrich and some small fish, acans, chalices, and leathers. If people think seahorses would do ok then I will think about trying them in my tank. But I dont want to have my tank resolve around seahorses. If they will work in my tank then great if not then I wont add them.

 

[iamwrasseman]

the sea horses require cooler temperatures

 

[reefgeezer]

Sounds like the sea horses are not your main interest. That makes it all but impossible to keep them. They are just not suitable for a mixed tank. Hopefully your LFS will confirm this opinion.